It seems I am now of an age where a friend finds it reasonable to suggest I could be traded in for a younger version.

I attest that 1) anyone who truly cares for me cares for me and who I am, what I bring to the table, not what I signify or what I do for someone else's ego. And 2) anyone who doesn't think I've got far more to contribute now than I did in my younger days is not paying attention.

Of course, once thing that's changed over the years is that I'm even less likely* to take crap from anyone, and I suspect many women find this to be true of themselves. I can see this might be problematic for those with lot of crap to give. No regrets on this front.

*A college professor told my parents at graduation that I did not suffer fools gladly, and this would always be a problem for me. True, and nothing I have ever wanted to change.